Europeiska ekonomiska och sociala kommittén
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted on 12 April the 7th meeting of the EU-Korea Civil Society Forum, an online event that gathered civil society representatives to discuss on labour-related issues, including working hours, civil dialogue and the state of play of the implementation of international standards and conventions (ILO). Participants also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
In a debate at the EESC plenary session on 25 March, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People, Valdis Dombrovskis said that most of the national recovery and resilience plans (RRPs) are still at an early stage and that "there is still a lot of work to do before the plans are mature enough". He also stressed that trade policy has a key role to play in getting the EU economy back on track.
At its March plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate with Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, to discuss the state of play of the accession of the Western Balkan partners. EESC members showed their convincement that integrating the Western Balkan partners in the EU is a geostrategic investment in peace and economic growth.
We strongly support the enlargement of the EU to embrace its Western Balkans partners providing that they fulfil all criteria for membership, with a particular accent on the Fundamentals. ...
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted on 2nd March the 7th Meeting of the representatives of African and EU economic and social stakeholders, a virtual event where speakers discussed the future of the EU-Africa partnership with a special focus in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.
On behalf of the European Economic and Social Committee I want to congratulate Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as Director-General of the World Trade Organization and I wish her a successful mandate. This appointment in itself brings wind of a much awaited change and marks a historic achievement.
The External Relations Section and its Russia Follow-up Committee strongly condemn the arrest and the incarceration of Mr. Alexei Navalny.
After some major setbacks in recent years, the EU and the US now have a unique opportunity to re-establish a stronger partnership and friendship, based on joint democratic values, shared history and common interests.
Since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, various jurisdictions throughout the world have implemented Emissions Trading Systems (ETSs). The EU ETS is the largest and oldest one and it is going to be overhauled in line with the EU’s 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework. In an opinion adopted at its September plenary session, the EESC provides an overview of the EU ETS and of other ETSs globally and outlines approaches to regulate trade in this new deal of carbon markets.
Relations between the EU and Africa are expected to be reshaped, as envisaged in a new strategy presented in March 2020 by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. ...
